Photo: NBC
Uber is still struggling to become a legal player on the market in British capital London, having just been denied a request for a permanent license. This is the second time in as many years that Uber’s request is denied.
The ride-share company’s license request was denied on the grounds that it was not “fit and proper” to operate, after passenger safety concerns and issues related with the back checks performed on their drivers. Last year, Uber scored a small victory when it was granted a 15-month temporary license by the Transport for London, during which time they would have to meet certain, very strict conditions.
With this small victory came the setback that they were denied a permanent license until those conditions were met. The other day, TfL denied another request for a permanent license, granting Uber only another 2-month extension on the 15-month temporary one. With the extension comes another set of conditions regarding passenger safety, insurance and checks on drivers, and ride-sharing documentation, the Guardian notes.
“Uber London Ltd has been granted a two-month private hire operator licence to allow for scrutiny of additional information that we are requesting ahead of consideration of any potential further licensing application,” a TfL spokesperson says.
Uber insists the 2 months will be enough to allow them to make whatever changes needed to show their compliance with British law. However, the black cab drivers, who have been against the ride-share service since it first arrived in London, believe Uber’s operating model is simply too flawed to be fixed almost overnight.
“It’s time the mayor pulled the plug on Uber’s immoral operation for good,” Steve McNamara, the general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association, says in a statement. He laments the extension, saying it allows Uber to put passengers in danger for another 2 months, while skirting the law.
With this small victory came the setback that they were denied a permanent license until those conditions were met. The other day, TfL denied another request for a permanent license, granting Uber only another 2-month extension on the 15-month temporary one. With the extension comes another set of conditions regarding passenger safety, insurance and checks on drivers, and ride-sharing documentation, the Guardian notes.
“Uber London Ltd has been granted a two-month private hire operator licence to allow for scrutiny of additional information that we are requesting ahead of consideration of any potential further licensing application,” a TfL spokesperson says.
Uber insists the 2 months will be enough to allow them to make whatever changes needed to show their compliance with British law. However, the black cab drivers, who have been against the ride-share service since it first arrived in London, believe Uber’s operating model is simply too flawed to be fixed almost overnight.
“It’s time the mayor pulled the plug on Uber’s immoral operation for good,” Steve McNamara, the general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association, says in a statement. He laments the extension, saying it allows Uber to put passengers in danger for another 2 months, while skirting the law.
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